Angela Merkel: Britain has 'illusions' about how easy Brexit will be

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said suggested that Britain
has 'illusions' about how straightforward Brexit will be.

Speaking in German Parliament, she said the new relationship
between Britain and the EU could not be negotiated before exit
terms were finalised.

She added that as a non-EU country, the UK would not have the
same rights as it presently does.

"I have to put it in such clear terms because, unfortunately, I
have the feeling that some in Britain still have illusions, but
that would be a waste of time," Merkel told the Bundestag on Thursday morning.

"We can only have an agreement on the future relationship with
Britain when all questions about its exit have been cleared up
satisfactorily. A third state, and that's what Britain will be,
cannot and will not have at its disposal the same rights ... as
members of the European Union.

Merkel added that she expected EU members to be consistently
united in the negotiations as there was "now a great deal of
agreement" between the 27 member states and the EU institutions
about the bloc's joint Brexit negotiating stance.

The Brexit negotiations will be very demanding both for both
sides, Merkel also warned, adding that she agreed with the head
of the EU Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, that Brexit
negotiations would only properly start after the June general
election in Britain.

"The exit negotiations will definitely demand a great deal of the
European Union as well as Britain itself in the two years. I
think that is completely beyond doubt," Merkel said.

Merkel's Brexit speech comes ahead of a summit on Saturday during
which the German chancellor and the heads of state of 27 EU
countries will meet to discuss guidelines for the Brexit
negotiations.